Sign-letter.



PATBNTED MAR. 28, 1905.

J. o. WANDS. SIGN LETTER.

APPLICATION FILED NOV.14,' 1904.

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No. F(85,988.

UNITED STATES Patented March 28, 1905.

JOHN O. IVANDS', OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

SIGN-LETTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 785,988, dated March 28, 1905. i Application filed November 14, 1904. Serial No. 232,629.

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Be it known that I, JOHN O. VANDS, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Louis, Missouri, have invented a certain new and useful Improvementin Sign-Letters, of which the following is a full, clear, andexact description, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevational view of my irnproved sign applied to a suitable support. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the same on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a view, partly in section and partly in elevation, taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of a slightlymodified form of my invention. Fig. 5 is a view, partly in seetion and partly in plan, on the line 5 5 of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a side elevational view of a form of my invention similar to that illustrated in Fig. L and having letters in lieu of numerals. Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view of a modified form of one of the sign units, and Fig. 8 is a detail horizontal sectional view through a portion of a support to which my invention is applied.

This invention relates to signs, and is particularly adapted to be used on structures wherein the sign will be subjected to the action of the elements.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a sign which may be easily and economically manufactured and which will possess the requiste strength without adding materially to its weight and which when properly placed and exposed to the elements will not deteriorate on account of rust, oxidation, or by contact with discoloring-gases. The sign is particularly designed to be applied to the exterior of cars and will contain the necessary designating characters, such asnumerals or letters. However, I would have it understood lthat I do not limit its application to railways, as it is apparent that it may be used in other capacities with equal eiiiciency.

Broadly, the invention consists in forming the sign of a single sheet of metal, preferably sheet-steel, comprising sign units on each of which are one or more characters which may be embossed in the sheet by appropriate dies, then coating the characters with a suitable material-such as enamel, paint, &c.-and then coating the remaining portion or background for such characters with a material of a dierent color, whereby the contours of the characters will be easily discernible.

The invention also consists in providing means whereby the sign will be prevented from deterioration due to its being exposed to the action of the elements. The latter object is accomplished by providing a novel construction whereby the rain, snow, &c., will be prevented from being introduced between the sign-letter and its support. As a result the life of the sign will be materially lengthened, and the effect of the contrast between the character and its background will permit the character to be easily discernible, so that frequent mistakes on the part of railroad employees heretofore experienced will be avoided.

In the drawings, A indicates a car side constituting a support upon which my invention is attached.

In Figs. 1, 2, and 3 I have illustrated the preferred form of my invention, wherein a sign is shown as comprising a plurality of similar units, each of which differs from its companion units only in the character displayed. Therefore a description of one of them will be applicable to the remaining ones.

1 designates the body portion of the sign unit, which consists of a sheet of metal upon which is a designating character 2, embossed in said sheet by suitable dies.

3 indicates the side anges which are integral with the plate, and t indicates a iiange offset from the body portion and lying in a plane parallel thereto. Fastening devices 9, preferably in the form of wire nails, are passed through the iianges 4 and into the side walls of the car. A The flanges 3 and 4.- might properly be termed marginal flanges, inasmuch as they extend from both sides and one edge of the sign unit. It will be observed that there is no liange at the lower edge of the sign, but a depression 5 is made inthe body portion of' the sg'n unit, the floor of which is in the same plane as the planes of the marginal flanges, so that the body portion of the unit will not only be stifliened, but a bearing will be made by means of which the sign may be attached to its support. By arranging the marginal flanges and the floor of the depression 5 in planes different from the plane of the body portion an appreciable space is provided between the inner surface of the body portion and the support to which it is attached. rIhis space is designated by the reference-numeral 6, and when the sign has been secured to its support the air is permitted to pass up between the sign and its support and circulate, so as to prevent deterioration ordecay on account of dampness or from other natural causes. .In order that the necessary circulation may take place between the sign unit and its support, I have provided two entrance-openings 7 and 7, which are formed by the side flanges 3 and the depression 5. rFhe flange 4 on the upper edg'e of' the body portion carries an outwardly and upwardly disposed projection, (designated bythe numeral 8,) which forms a groove or troug'h into which a cementitious material may be deposited to seal the joint between the sign and its support when the sign is in place. Thus the entrance of water or other deteriorating elements between the sign and its support will be prevented.

In Figs. 4 and 5 I have illustrated an entire sign, the units of which are united in a single sheet, the characters being designated by the numerals 10. In this form (illustrated in Fig's. 4 and 5) the body portion 11 is provided with side flanges l2 and an end flang'e 18, the depressions 14 in this form being similar to those designated by the reference-numeral 5 in Fig. l.

In Fig. 6 I have illustrated a construction of sign similar to that indicated in Fig. 4with the exception that letters instead of numerals are employed.

In Fig. 7 a slightly-modilied form of sign is illustrated, in which .l illustrate an angularly-disposed spur carried at the upper edge of' the flange 4, which spur is designated by the numeral 15 and extends across the entire upper edge of' the sign and is adapted to be inserted into a lierfl or groove 16, formed in the wooden support B.

In Fig. 8 I have illustrated asectional view of a portion of a car comprising' the outer wall A and the inner wall A, properly spaced apart, the fastening device 9 being illustrated as a long wire nail passing through both walls and having' its inner end clenched against the inner wall A.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that a sign constructed in accordance with the one illustrated and described will possess the requisite qualifications, and the liability of' the characters being' obliterated on account of the action of the elements will be avoided.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is

1. A sign comprising a sheet having marginal flanges except on one edge, and a spacing depression in the sheet at the flangeless edge thereof; substantially as described.

2. A sig'n comprising' a sheet having' marginal flanges on three edges, the top edge having means for preventing the introduction of moisture between the sign and its support; substantially as described.

3. A sign comprising a sheet having a sign character embossed thereon, the sheet being of a color different from that of the embossment, marginal flanges carried by the sheet, ventilatiiig-openings at one edge of the sheet, and means carried by one end flange for preventing the introduction of' moisture between the sheet and its support; substantially as described.

4. A sign comprising a sheet having marginal flanges on three edges and an offset on the remaining edge, the floor of said offset being in the same plane as the planes of' the flanges; substantially as described.

A sign comprising' a sheet having a sign character thereon, marginal flanges on three edges ofthe sheet, said flanges being i'n a plane different from the plane of the sheet, and a flange on one of the marginal flanges and arranged to prevent the introduction of moisture between the sign and its support; substantially as described.

6. A sign comprising' a sheet having' a sign character thereon, marginal flanges on three edges of the sheet and in planes different from that of' the sheet, and a flange carried by one of' the marginal flanges and in a plane different from the plane ofl the marginal flanges; substantially as described.

7. A sign unit comprising a sheet having' a sign character thereon, a marginal flange on three edges of' the sheet, a flange carried by one of' the marginal flanges, and a depressed offset carried in the sheet at the flang'eless edge thereof; substantially as described.

8. A sign comprising a sheet having' backwardly-bent marginal flanges in a plane different f'rom the plane of the sheet, an outstanding flange carried by the upper marginal flange, and a depression at the flang'eless edge of the sheet, the floor of said depression being in the same plane as the plane of the marg'inal flanges; substantially as described.

In testimony whereof' I hereunto afliX my signature,in the presence of two witnesses,this 11th day of' November, 1904.

JOHN C. VANDS.

Vitnesses:

B. F. FUNK, (li-iconen BAKuwnLL.

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